In my 12+ years in the interior design industry I've worked with countless interior decorators and clients, and in that time I've noticed the same issues come up again and again. The designer/client relationship is an interesting one and communication is very important. I've touched on that subject in this article about working with designers. Have a look and see what you think. I'd love to hear back from designers and people who have worked with them so please feel free to leave a comment on this post.

Working with Interior Designers and Decorators

Photo © RTR Media / Income Property

How many of you are on Pinterest? I got on a couple of days ago and I'm hooked. For those of you who don't know, Pinterest is like an online pin board. Anytime you find an image you like on the Internet you can "pin" it, and keep track of all your favorite photos. You can allow other people to see your boards and you can check out everyone else's. I'm pleased to say our very own website is nicely represented - thanks guys! If you haven't tried it yet, here's the link. You have to request invite so be patient. Once they send it to you you'll be just as addicted as the rest of us!

I've been working with some designers lately to design a few kitchens and one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make is what countertop to go with.  There are a lot of great options out there but more often than not I go with butcher block. A lot of people think it's not high-end enough but I love the natural, warm look. I also think it looks just as good in modern, sleek spaces as it does in more rustic varieties. Take the picture for example - it's a contemporary, industrial space yet the butcher block adds warmth and makes the space a little less intimidating. The other great thing? It's cheap! Where you spend thousands on a high-end material, butcher block will only cost you a couple of hundred dollars.

Photo © RTR Media / Income Property

When I told my mother I wanted to paint my walls black when I was a teenager she just about had a fit. But this wasn't your average teenage attempt at being dramatic, this was a serious decorating endeavor. I knew that a room with black walls was chic and stylish, but all my mother could imagine was me living in a dark and depressing room indulging my teen angst. In any case, I never ended up doing it, but if I had I like to think I would have ended up with something as beautiful as one of these rooms.  In my opinion they're cozy, sophisticated and most of all, gorgeous. What about you? Would you ever paint your walls a dark color?

Photo © Andrea Schumacher / O Interior Design